The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
Latest article
Spotlight
-
Mozart’s Musical Journey
20 April 1782: Fantasy and Fugue, K. 394 April 20th, 2019Mozart writes to his sister in April 1782: “My darling Constanze has at last summoned up courage to follow the impulse of her kind heart, and to write to you. If you are so good, dear sister, as to answer -
Understanding Cultures through Classical Music April 19th, 2019 The divide between cultures is as wide as it has ever been today. However, there is a bridge that links us all. Our spoken languages and lifestyles have and always will be different, and vive la différence I say. These -
Notre Dame de Paris
The Birthplace of Modern Music April 18th, 2019By now we have all seen the shocking images of the horrific fire engulfing Notre-Dame de Paris, the most famous Gothic Cathedral of the Middle Ages. For over 800 years, it has stood as an icon and symbol of Western -
Padmâvatî: The Legendary Queen of Chittor April 18th, 2019 During his honeymoon journey to India, Albert Roussel visited the ruined city of Chittor in Rajputana, currently located in Rajasthan. That city had a very colorful and long history, and once he returned home to Paris he approached his friend -
“Heaven on Earth for Pianists”
Summer Piano Courses in France with James Lisney April 17th, 2019The piano summer school is now an established part of the year for many adult amateur pianists, eagerly anticipated and prepared for with great care. Much more than a “piano holiday”, the piano summer school is an opportunity to study -
Musicians and Artists: Schoenberg and Kandinsky April 14th, 2019 When you get two modern artists together, something special happens. In this case we have a composer/painter in Arnold Schoenberg and the Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky. As the story goes, in early January 1911, Kandinsky, who was in Munich, went -
Mozart’s Musical Journey
14 April 1770: Contredance in B-flat major, K. 123 April 14th, 2019Leopold Mozart writes to his wife from Rome, “We arrive here safely on the 11th at noon. I could have been more easily persuaded to return to Salzburg than to proceed to Rome, for we had to travel for five -
Classical Musicians & Jazz: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! April 13th, 2019 “Love and Marriage,” according to Frank Sinatra go “together like a horse and carriage.” I’ve been wondering if that’s also true about the relationship between classical musicians & Jazz? In musical terms, “genre” has decidedly become a dirty word. It